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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 419-425.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.14-452

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification and characterization of HIV-1 transmitted /founder viruses

Jianyuan Zhao1, 2, Jiwei Ding2, Zeyun Mi2, Tao Wei1, Shan Cen2   

  1. 1. Department of Food Science, College of Arts & Science of Beijing Union University, Beijing 100192, China;
    2. Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical School, Beijing 100050, China
  • Received:2014-12-19 Online:2015-05-20 Published:2015-05-20

Abstract: During the spread of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the mucosa, the entire genetic diversity of the viruses is significantly reduced. The vast majority of HIV-1 mucosal infections are established by one or a few viruses and ultimately develop into systemic infections, thus the initial virus is called transmitted/founder virus (T/F virus). The study of T/F virus will benefit understanding its key characteristics resulting in successful viral replication in the new host body, which may provide novel strategies for the development of AIDS vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis and other therapeutic interventions. In this review, we summarize the discovery and evolutionary characteristics of T/F virus as well as early immune response after HIV-1 infection, which will establish the basis to explore the features of T/F viruses.

Key words: human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1), viral transmission, acute infection, transmitted /founder virues (T/F Virus)